Turkey in a Smoker

This smoked turkey recipe makes a moist, tender, hickory-flavored whole turkey that’s sure to be met with rave reviews from your holiday guests! It’s nearly impossible to cook a large bird on a barbecue grill so a smoker is best for this.

Preparation Details

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 10 hrs

Total Time: 10 hrs 20 mins

Servings: 13

Ingredients

• 1 (10 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tablespoons seasoned salt
• ½ cup butter
• 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans cola-flavored carbonated beverage
• 1 medium apple, quartered
• 1 medium onion, quartered
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups hickory wood chips, or more as needed (Optional)

Steps

1. Preheat a smoker to 225 to 250 degrees F (110 to 120 degrees C).
2. Rinse turkey under cold water, and pat dry.
3. Rub crushed garlic over the outside of the turkey, and sprinkle with seasoned salt. Transfer to a disposable roasting pan.
4. Fill the turkey cavity with butter, cola, apple, onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cover turkey loosely with foil.
5. Add wood chips to the smoker according to the manufacturer’s directions. Place the roasting pan in the preheated smoker. Smoke the turkey, basting every 1 to 2 hours with juices from the bottom of the roasting pan, for 5 hours.
6. Add more wood chips if desired. Continue smoking and basting, until turkey is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 5 more hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 180 degrees F (80 degrees C).